H a b i t a t - Daily wildlife and environment news from the British Isles


Animals
Resources
Mammal Society Mammals Trust UK The Deer Commission for Scotland Scottish Big Cat Trust Scottish Badgers International Otter Survival Fund Bat Conservation Trust National Federation of Badger Groups Froglife Herpetological Groups of Britain & Ireland Butterfly Conservation Butterflies of Ireland Spiders of NW-Europe British Dragonfly Society Buglife

Be aware, spot some ladybirds!

Mini-beast hunters are being offered an insight into the wildlife that can be found in the average back garden.

this is Leicestershire

New sightings of the panther

More black panther sightings have been reported in the Staffordshire Moorlands.

this is Staffordshire

Farmland attracts rare bats

The swathes of cattle-grazed pastures across Pembrokeshire are thought to be a key reason why the county supports 15% of Britain 's population of rare bats.

this is Pembrokeshire

Water voles return home - Sheppey

Water voles that were carefully re-homed in temporary accommodation during construction of the A249 Iwade Bypass to Queenborough road improvement scheme have just been released back into the wild on the Isle of Sheppey.

Your County

It's otter delight on the riverbank

Otters on the River Severn will now have somewhere special to live thanks to hours of hard graft by burly volunteers.

this is Gloucestershire

Have you seen brown hares?

Swindon people are asked to help protect the brown hare by recording sightings and helping with a count.

this is Wiltshire

Frogspawn trader falls foul of the Wildlife Act

A woman who tried to sell frogspawn on the internet has been cautioned by police for breaking the Wildlife and Countryside Act.

Telegraph
Times Online

The harlequin ladybird is the most invasive ladybird on Earth.
Now it's in Britain.
Help monitor its spread here


Plants
Resources
The British Lichen Society The Woodland Trust Botanical Society of the British Isles Plantlife Flora locale Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh Royal Botanic Gardens Kew Heritage Trees of Scotland The Postcode Plants Database Forestry Commission

Branch out for posterity

Conservationists are encouraging people to send in details about ancient trees in the countryside around them.

this is Leicestershire

Parks try tropical trees to beat heat

London's royal parks are to be planted with Mediterranean and tropical trees because they will be able to withstand the effects of climate change.

Times Online

Charity calls for protection of sites

In April, Business Eco reported on an effective way in which developers can preserve wildflower sites and the insects that rely on them.

this is the North-east

Industry urged to protect habitats

Businesses in the region are being urged to do more to encourage wildflowers on their sites.

this is the North-east

Black market threat to Britain's rarest flowers

To the untutored eye, the long-stemmed purple plants clustered in a boggy paddock on the Wirral peninsula seemed to be just one more species in an area blessed with many.

Independent

Hay meadow seed harvesting demonstration events

Two events aiming to boost the income of farmers with traditionally managed hay meadows are being run in July.

Yorkshire Dales News

Invader is rooted out

Himalayan Balsam is a plant that has invaded our shores and imposes a stranglehold on any area it takes over.

this is Wiltshire


Birds
Resources
British Trust for Ornithology Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Birds Directive BirdGuides Bird News JNCC - Birds Natura 2000 Birds by Species Breeding Birds in the Wider Countryside Black Grouse UK Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust BirdLife International Fat Birder

DVD cash aids osprey scheme

A new DVD aims to help raise funds for a long-term initiative supporting the reintroduction of ospreys to the heart of England.

this is Leicestershire

Turbine plans move a step closer

Plans for a wind farm 12km off the coast of Thanet have moved a step closer with the company submitting an application to Thanet District Council.

BBC

Bird flu 'as grave a threat as terrorism'

Bird flu is now as much of a danger to Britain as terrorism, ministers have been told by the Government's official emergency body.

Independent

Blimey - they're going bird box barmey

A treasure hunt with a difference takes place on the riverbanks of Durham today.

this is the North-east

Nest in peace!

Kind-hearted firefighters in have put training exercises on hold - after a feathered got in the way of their procedures.

icCoventry

O for a swift's life: eating in the air, sleeping in the air, and best of all . . .

Wimbledon is the site of the annual birding competition between The Times and The Guardian.

Times Online

Fear for birds of prey

Buildingthe Whinash windfarm could kill a number of "very special" birds of prey that routinely use the fells and commons near Tebay to roost and hunt for food, an objector claimed.

This Is The Lake District


Marine
Resources
British Marine Life Study Society JNCC Fisheries Marine Conservation Society Marine Life Information Network for Britain and Ireland Shark Trust The European Register of Marine Species The UK Coastal Zone

Circle hooks help save sea turtles

Results from the first large-scale testing of specially designed fishing hooks show that the use of circle hooks can reduce the number of endangered sea turtles killed in long line fishing operations by as much as 90 percent, said WWF.

WWF Newsroom

Is Navy sonar killing whales and dolphins?

The Royal Navy may be unwittingly killing whales and dolphins in British waters with its sonar equipment, the Government will be told today.

Western Press

Japan's whaling bid frustrated

Conservationists at the International Whaling Commission's annual meeting won a hollow victory in Ulsan, Korea, this week.

news @ nature.com
WWF Newsroom
New Scientist

Reform likely on whaling process

The International Whaling Commission's annual meeting has ended with the usual impasse between pro- and anti- groups.

BBC


National/Europe
Resources
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group Natural Environment Research Council Minerals and Nature Conservation Forum The Wildlife Trusts Wildlife and Countryside Link British Naturalists' Association EnvironmentJobs

EU revolt as maize plans are rejected

European environment ministers rebelled against the European Commission yesterday by rejecting its attempt to force genetically modified maize to go on sale.

Irish Independent

Naturenet
Countryside management and nature conservation
- here


Scotland
Resources
Scottish Natural Heritage Scottish Environment Protection Agency Scottish Biodiversity Group Scotland's National Nature Reserves John Muir Trust Scottish Environment News Scottish Wildlife Trust Red Squirrels In South Scotland

Licensed to kill: secret slaughter of protected species revealed

Tens of thousands of endangered birds and mammals have been killed or controlled under secretive licences given out by the Scottish Executive over the past five years.

Sunday Herald

Fire up the new green fuel: wood

As many as one in 10 of Scotland’s homes could be heated by a humble new fuel that is renewable, affordable and could dramatically cut pollution – wood.

Sunday Herald

Linklater's Scotland

The wind-farm debate divides Scotland down the middle. It is the biggest and most far-reaching development to have enveloped the countryside for 60 years, outstripping even the massive post-war hydro schemes that altered the glens and changed the course of Highland rivers.

Scotsman.com

Fighting wildlife crime

Crimes against wildlife should be treated as seriously as any other type of offence, said Lewis Macdonald, deputy rural affairs minister, at the Highland show.

Scotsman.com

£27,000 for Puir Wife’s facelift

Woodland near a West Lothian town is to be given a facelift.

icWestlothian

Assynt community celebrates legal ownership

The communities of Assynt today concluded an historic and important purchase under new Land Reform legislation.

Scottish Executive


England
Resources
English Nature Countryside Agency Environment Agency Campaign for the Protection of Rural England

Bellamy takes the plunge at wetlands site

Botanist and broadcaster Dr David Bellamy has never minded getting wet in the cause of conservation.

this is the North-east

Transformed colliery to be dedicated as reserve

A former brickworks and pit in County Durham is to be designated today as a special site for wildlife.

this is the North-east

Talks planned to make use of 'hidden gem'

Crook residents have been called to a meeting next week to discuss plans to turn a town centre stream into a community beauty spot.

this is the North-east

Councillors' concern over ponds proposal

Concerns have been expressed over a proposed large industrial development in Helston.

County Gazette

Students invited to become eco wardens

Countryside wardens are helping students into jobs by offering vital work experience.

this is the North-east

Back to nature

Volunteers are being sought to help clear a nature area to encourage wildlife.

this is Leicestershire

Warning that saving water could harm wildlife

A water company has been told not to conserve supplies by cutting its flow from a reservoir to a river because it would endanger wildlife.

The Argus

Grants to protect 'special' river

Landowners near Devon's River Dart are being offered grants from the Devon Wildlife Trust (DWT) to improve water quality and river habitat.

BBC

Wildlife warning over allotments

An environmental charity is warning plans to build on allotments in Melton Mowbray could endanger wildlife.

BBC

Feedback needed on wood's future

Public help is needed to shape the future of a Bath woodland.

this is Bath

Attracting the wildlife

Gardening tips to encourage wildlife have been put together by Nottingham in Bloom.

this is Nottingham


Wales
Resources
Welsh Assembly Countryside Council for Wales Wales Biodiversity Partnership Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales Environment Agency (Wales)

Raw sewage leak shuts two beaches

Raw sewage leaking into a river has led to the closure of two beaches in Aberystwyth over the weekend.

BBC

Nature's favourite colour

Join the Pembrokeshire Darwin Science Festival team in a search for clues in The Big Treasure Hunt at the Wildlife Centre,

this is Tivyside

£10,000 grant for Porthkerry Woodland area

A £10,000 grant from Dow Corning has boosted the Porthkerry Community Woodland project to help create 40 acres of woodland and open space for the community.

Barry - Today

Fancy owning an island fort for £150,000?

Are you seeking solitude, 360-degree sea views and a driveway only navigable by boat?

icWales

Bird islands targeted as N-dumps

Pembrokeshire's jewels in the crown - the islands of Skomer, Skokholm and Ramsey - were among several west Wales sites identified as nuclear waste dumps in the 1980s.

this is Pembrokeshire


Ireland
Resources
Environment & Heritage Service (Northern Ireland) Northern Ireland Biodiversity Group National Parks and Wildlife Service Ireland's Environment All-Ireland review of introduced species

Protests over gas pipeline halted by court

Shell E and P Ireland Ltd was granted a temporary injunction by the High Court yesterday preventing named protesters from obstructing access to its compound at Rossport, Co Mayo.

Irish Independent

Roche welcomes Council decision not to accede to Commission demands on GMOs

The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Mr Dick Roche, T.D. today welcomed today's decision by the Environment Council in Brussels to reject European Commission demands to overturn national bans on GMO products in Member States

Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government


Climate
Resources
Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research Hadley Centre for Climate Prediction and Research Southampton Oceanography Centre Centre for Ecology and Hydrology Natural Environment Research Council UK Climate Impacts Programme Impacts of Climate Change on Wildlife ENN Special Reports: Climate Change Global Warming: Early warning signs

Outbreaks of freak weather will increase, climate experts warn

Britain faces many more unpredictable and dangerous flash floods, the country's top environmental watchdog warned yesterday, as Tony Blair contemplates publicly breaking with George Bush for the first time over global warming.

Independent

Ireland leads EU on Kyoto targets

Ireland is one of only two European Union states to have cut their greenhouse gas emissions in line with the Kyoto protocol, according to new published figures relating to 2002 and 2003.

Times Online

Britain backs curb on cheap flights

The majority of Britons believe that there must be restrictions on cheap air travel if the increasing problem of global warming is going to be tackled.

The Observer

Climate change threatens humanity's cradle Africa

Climate change in Africa gave rise to modern humans. Now experts fear that global warming linked to carbon emissions will have its worst impact on humanity's cradle.

Reuters

Green stars 'can't see wood for the trees'

It is the latest celebrity badge of honour in the fight to save the planet from the devastating consequences of global warming.

Scotsman.com

The heat is on

As G8 summit plans are finalised, it has become clear that we will soon be presented with two very different programmes for dealing with carbon dioxide.

The Observer

David Prosser: Climate change is already costing you

If George Bush is so convinced that the US's superior technology will be able to solve problems related to climate change, it would be handy if he would lend some of it to Britain's insurance industry

Independent

Climate science pioneer Keeling dies

The climate science pioneer Charles David Keeling, who first tracked the rise of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere half a century ago, has died of a heart attack at age 77, the Scripps Institution of Oceanography said on Thursday evening.

IOL

Help produce a forecast of the climate in the 21st century, using your computer -
here


Global
Resources
IUCN - World Conservation Union Convention on Biological Diversity WWF - The global environment network World Land Trust

Indian agency to protect tigers

The Indian government is planning to set up a task force to protect tigers in wildlife sanctuaries in the country.

BBC

Endangered Species Act faces broad new challenges

More than three decades after the Endangered Species Act gave the federal government tools and a mandate to protect animals, insects and plants threatened with extinction, the landmark law is facing the most intense efforts ever by the White House, Congress, landowners and industry to limit its reach.

New York Times

Rwanda symbolically names endangered baby gorillas

Rwanda held a traditional naming ceremony for some of its rare mountain gorillas on Saturday in an effort to attract tourism and help to preserve one of the world's most endangered species.

Reuters
IOL

Giant George inching towards extinction

Lonesome George does not know that he is, technically, extinct; but the last of the giant saddle-backed tortoises from Pinta island, in the northern Galapagos archipelago, seems to suspect that something is wrong.

Irish Independent

The World Land Trust is a conservation charity that has helped purchase and protect over 300,000 acres of rainforest and other threatened wildlife habitats worldwide. You can help us save even more - here

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Daily wildlife and environment news from the British Isles